Astros report: Lyles & Co. lend advice to Appel

As No. 1 overall pick Mark Appel walked toward righthander Jordan Lyles behind the batting cage at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday afternoon, a top club official leaned over to the Astros’ new ace and said, “He’s going to make a great No. 2 for you.”

The modest Lyles, who is one of the hottest pitchers in baseball, smiled and waited to greet Appel before taking the Stanford righthander to shag balls in the outfield.

“Just stay level-headed, just come to the park every day and get your work in,” Lyles said when asked what advice he had for Appel. “He says he hasn’t thrown in a while, so he should take his time and go at his own pace.

“Whenever he’s ready to start throwing and getting everything in place for him to start putting some starts together, just take his time really. That’s all I got for him right now. Just enjoy this time and make the most of it.”

Lefthander Dallas Keuchel, another starter expected to be around Minute Maid Park for a few years, also chatted with Appel during batting practice.

“He’s got plenty of talent from what I hear,” Keuchel said. “He seems like a pretty good kid, real level-headed and I think he’s going to go about his business the right way.”

Porter preaches value of fielding

Two days after starting pitcher Bud Norris admittedly cost himself by failing to make a defensive play he assumed he should have made, manager Bo Porter put his pitchers through a fielding practice Wednesday.

“We actually had this thing on the schedule,” Porter said. “I’m not one of those reactionary type people. These guys work extremely hard day in and day out on the fundamentals. Even when things don’t go well in the game, I never look at it and say that’s because we’re not prepared.

“We are probably one of the most prepared teams in all of baseball. At that same time, this here was on the schedule. Those guys are going to put great effort toward it. We pride ourselves in doing the fundamental things the right way each and every time. I tell them all the time, if you play the game fundamentally sound, it puts you in the best position to win ballgames.”

Although it’s rare for more established clubs to go through extra work during the season, Astros pitchers go through fielding practice and catchers and outfielders throw to the bases at least once every other homestand.

“You certainly don’t want to lose games because you give teams

extra outs,” third base coach Dave Trembley said. “It’s just basic fundamentals. I think what you do here at this level is you do maintenance. You do maintenance on a regular basis so you keep guys fresh and you also stress the importance to your team of the little things.

“We lost a ballgame the other night because of the little things, so what we try to do is once a homestand is we do some fundamentals and get some guys together as a team.”

Harrell looking to stay on a roll

Righthander Lucas Harrell (5-7, 4.48 ERA) will attempt to win his second straight start and throw his fourth consecutive quality start this month. He has limited opponents to only three runs through 132⁄3 innings over his last two starts.

Harrell is 1-1 with an impressive 1.74 ERA in June while giving up only four earned runs over 202⁄3 innings while throwing three quality starts in that span.

<center><strong>June 20: Astros 7, Brewers 4 (10 innings)</center></strong><br>Astros first baseman Carlos Pena is doused with water as he hugs teammate Carlos Corporan after hitting a three-run walk-off home run in the 10th inning. less

<center><strong>June 20: Astros 7, Brewers 4 (10 innings)</center></strong><br>Astros first baseman Carlos Pena is doused with water as he hugs teammate Carlos Corporan after hitting a three-run walk-off home ... more

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle

Image 2 of 68

Brewers second baseman Scooter Gennett (2) is tagged out at home by Astros catcher Carlos Corporan trying to score on a grounder by shortstop Jean Segura during the 9th inning to preserve a 4-4 score.

Brewers second baseman Scooter Gennett (2) is tagged out at home by Astros catcher Carlos Corporan trying to score on a grounder by shortstop Jean Segura during the 9th inning to preserve a 4-4 score.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle

Image 3 of 68

Astros first baseman Carlos Pena pumps his fist as he runs to first after hitting a thee-run walk-off home run in the 10th inning.

Astros first baseman Carlos Pena pumps his fist as he runs to first after hitting a thee-run walk-off home run in the 10th inning.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

Image 4 of 68

Astros first baseman Carlos Pena celebrates as he runs toward home after hitting a thee-run walk-off home run.

Astros first baseman Carlos Pena celebrates as he runs toward home after hitting a thee-run walk-off home run.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle

Image 5 of 68

Image 6 of 68

Astros first baseman Carlos Pena is mobbed by teammates at home.

Astros first baseman Carlos Pena is mobbed by teammates at home.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle

Image 7 of 68

Astros first baseman Carlos Pena is mobbed by teammates at home after hitting a three-run walk-off home run in the 10th inning.

Astros first baseman Carlos Pena is mobbed by teammates at home after hitting a three-run walk-off home run in the 10th inning.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle

Image 8 of 68

Astros manager Bo Porter hugs first baseman Carlos Pena.

Astros manager Bo Porter hugs first baseman Carlos Pena.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle

Image 9 of 68

Astros first baseman Carlos Pena celebrates with Matt Dominguez after hitting a thee-run walk-off home run in the 10th inning.

Astros first baseman Carlos Pena celebrates with Matt Dominguez after hitting a thee-run walk-off home run in the 10th inning.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle

Image 10 of 68

Image 11 of 68

Astros first baseman Carlos Pena has his postgame interview interrupted as gets a shaving cream-filled towel to the face from pitcher Jose Veras.

Astros first baseman Carlos Pena has his postgame interview interrupted as gets a shaving cream-filled towel to the face from pitcher Jose Veras.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle

Image 12 of 68

CSN Houston reporter Julia Morales turns away as first baseman Carlos Pena is dunked with Gatorade by Brandon Barnes during his postgame interview after hitting a three-run walk-off home run in the 10th inning.

CSN Houston reporter Julia Morales turns away as first baseman Carlos Pena is dunked with Gatorade by Brandon Barnes during his postgame interview after hitting a three-run walk-off home run in the 10th inning.

Carlos Corporan celebrates after his solo home run in the eighth inning tied the game at 4-4.

Carlos Corporan celebrates after his solo home run in the eighth inning tied the game at 4-4.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle

Image 17 of 68

Astros shortstop Marwin Gonzalez puts the tag on Brewers left fielder Caleb Gindl as he gets caught in a rundown between third base and home to end the seventh inning.

Astros shortstop Marwin Gonzalez puts the tag on Brewers left fielder Caleb Gindl as he gets caught in a rundown between third base and home to end the seventh inning.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle

Image 18 of 68

Astros left fielder J.D. Martinez hits a double during the tenth inning.

Astros left fielder J.D. Martinez hits a double during the tenth inning.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle

Image 19 of 68

Justin Maxwell catches right fielder Trevor Crowe's gloves as it is tossed back from the stands after Crowe was injured trying to make a play on a home run by Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy during the sixth inning. less

Justin Maxwell catches right fielder Trevor Crowe's gloves as it is tossed back from the stands after Crowe was injured trying to make a play on a home run by Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy during the sixth ... more

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle

Image 20 of 68

Image 21 of 68

Brewers starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo delivers a pitch to Astros right fielder Trevor Crowe during the first inning at Minute Maid Park.

Brewers starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo delivers a pitch to Astros right fielder Trevor Crowe during the first inning at Minute Maid Park.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle

Image 22 of 68

Brewers left fielder Caleb Gindl can't make a diving play on a ball hit by Astros right fielder Trevor Crowe during the first inning.

Brewers left fielder Caleb Gindl can't make a diving play on a ball hit by Astros right fielder Trevor Crowe during the first inning.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle

Image 23 of 68

Brewers third baseman Yuniesky Betancourt applies the tag as Astros right fielder Trevor Crowe is out at third trying to stretch a double into a triple during the first inning.

Brewers third baseman Yuniesky Betancourt applies the tag as Astros right fielder Trevor Crowe is out at third trying to stretch a double into a triple during the first inning.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle

Image 24 of 68

Astros center fielder Justin Maxwell has a ball off the bat of Brewers left fielder Caleb Gindl bounce out of his glove during the second inning.

Astros center fielder Justin Maxwell has a ball off the bat of Brewers left fielder Caleb Gindl bounce out of his glove during the second inning.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle

Image 25 of 68

Image 26 of 68

Brewers relief pitcher Donovan Hand (left) cheers from the bullpen as Astros center fielder Justin Maxwell tumbles to the warning track after having a ball off the bat of Brewers left fielder Caleb Gindl bounce out of his glove during the second inning. Two runs scored on the fielding error. less

Brewers relief pitcher Donovan Hand (left) cheers from the bullpen as Astros center fielder Justin Maxwell tumbles to the warning track after having a ball off the bat of Brewers left fielder Caleb Gindl ... more

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle

Image 27 of 68

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve leaps to get the force at second on Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy during the second inning.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve leaps to get the force at second on Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy during the second inning.